16 dead in Utah flood

The death toll in a flood in southern Utah was 16, authorities confirmed Tuesday.

A flash flood took place in southern Utah on the border with Arizona on Monday. Several vehicles were swept into waterways after heavy rains hit at approximately 5 p.m. local time (2300 GMT), including two vehicles that had been carrying at least 16 people in Maxwell Canyon north of the city of Hildale, Utah, according to the local fire department. Twelve of these 16 people have been confirmed dead and one person remains missing, officials said.

In Zion National Park, another four visitors were killed while exploring Keyhole Canyon when more than half an inch of rain fell in less than an hour, National Park Service officials said, while three others who were exploring the canyon were missing and rescuers wouldn't be able to go into the canyon until conditions improved.

The victims were from several families and included women and small children, the youngest of which was 4, Hildale Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Barlow said.

One survivor was transferred to the hospital Monday night, according to the Washington County, Utah, Sheriff's Office.

"We're just greatly humbled by this, and this is something we can't control," said Hildale Mayor Philip Barlow. "We have to take what we receive and do the best we can."

Utah Governor Gary Herbert, who was on a trade mission in China, released a statement Tuesday. "I am heartbroken to hear of the recent tragedy in Washington County," he said in the statement. "The State of Utah has offered its full resources to the town of Hildale to aid with the search and rescue effort. The Governor's Office and Department of Public Safety are in close communication with local government and public safety officials in the affected area."

"This is one of the worst weather-related disasters in the history of the state of Utah," Spencer J. Cox, the vice governor of Utah, said at Tuesday's news conference. Endi